Fay Barry Lost 180 Pounds

My turning point: My clothes got so tight that I'd actually get welts on my skin. And I couldn't sleep on my back because it would hurt so much; I'd wake up constantly to switch positions. I couldn't stand it anymore.

My best motivator: Dr. Phil's book, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom. I bought it the day I hit rock bottom, and I've read it seven times since.

My greatest temptation: I won't let myself crave junk food. I refuse to go through the pain of being overweight again. Instead of rewarding myself with goodies, I treat myself with jewelry. When I got down to 170 pounds, I bought myself a three-carat diamond bracelet.

My exercise routine: I walk on the treadmill for one hour every day, lifting a 10-pound weight in each hand for the first mile. I also do 150 upper-abdominal and 150 lower-abdominal crunches every day.

Slim-down advice: Don't eat for emotional reasons. Eat for nutrition.

The payoff: It's not so much what others say, but how I feel: Euphoric! I wake up rested -- not in a fog like I used to.

The Secret of Your Success

Have you lost unwanted pounds and kept them off? Whether you've shed that extra weight with a diet that really worked or by revamping your snack habits, we want to know your secrets for an ongoing Good Housekeeping Web feature. Email us your success story and be sure to include your name and daytime phone number.

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